189 Tasting Notes
Bagged
Aroma when Dry: Bright, crisp, not quite fruity. clean
After water is first poured: can distinguish individual blacks in the blend, jasmine is barely noticeable.
At end of first steep:
Tea liquor:
first color: light brown
At end of steep: deep red brown
Staple? No.
Time of day preferred: Afternoon
Taste:
first notes: can taste the Darjeeling & Ceylon and Jasmine. Can smell more then I can identify.
As it cools? The tea opens up quite a bit, I can taste 4-5 individual notes, not sure exactly which, save the Jasmine
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No.
Lingers? Yes, slightly smoky, floral, woody notes.
Might try the loose leaf version sometime.
Will try as base for chai at some point.
Second steep color: med red brown
second steep taste: sweet, nutty, almost creamy
Preparation
Bagged
Aroma when Dry: sweet, clove, ginger, vanilla notes
After water is first poured: generic ginger cake
At end of steep: Soured ginger
Tea liquor:
first color: light dusty
At end of steep: med brown
Staple? No.
Time of day preferred: any
Taste:
first notes: rum, vanilla weak cinnamon and clove hint of cardamum. (without sugar and milk)
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not at first, added a sprinkling of raw sugar and splash of milk after it started to cool. With milk and sugar it soured further, and only the notes of the black tea, cardamum, clove and rum are noticeable.
Lingers? Yes, sour, woody.
Preparation
Bagged
Aroma when Dry: Sweet, like store cake frosting
After water is first poured: vanilla notes noticed first, hints of the others
At end of steep: bland, dusty sweet
Tea liquor:
first color: med. brown
At end of steep: darkens a bit.
Staple? No.
Time of day preferred: undecided.
Taste: bland, like mildly candied cheap black tea
first notes: Vanilla, pepper
As it cools: cinnamon and Vanilla surface
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with a touch of vanilla
Preparation
Bagged
Aroma when Dry: Sweet, like store cake frosting, dusty
After water is first poured: overpowering SWEET
At end of steep: sweet, almost like baby shampoo
Tea liquor:
first color: light brown
At end of steep:
Color: same
Staple? No.
Time of day preferred: undecided, first tasting
Taste: flat, dusty, bland
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, leaves a sour note
Upon suggestion, I tried a 1min steep
Taste: Soapy, but not sour
Lingers with earthy, dusty notes
Preparation
try a much short steep time for this. I usually do under a minute. I found that any longer and the cardamon overpowers the vanilla and becomes wayyyyy too strong and almost sour as you said.
ok, but is it as sweet as it smells? I do have one more bag of this (was a sample/gift) so I’ll give this a try- thanks!
Bagged,
Aroma when Dry: Sweet, spicy, frosty, delicate
After water is first poured: crisp, can detect both the mint and ginger notes.
At end of steep:
Tea liquor:
first color: grassy brown
At end of steep: notes blend, deepen and warm.
Color: deep tea brown
Staple? YES, hope to stock up for full year this time. -looking into ordering the loose leaf. Would be a go-to tea if it were not seasonal.
Time of day preferred: Any, though lovely in afternoon.
Taste:
first notes: sharp, crisp, bright. The mint mellows the ginger through
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with a clean, crisp light texture, with same notes, though mint is a touch more prominent. It is here that the floral nature of the white tea is most noticeable.
As it cools? Fresh, fragrant. Mint takes lead note, with floral and ginger following.
Want to try chilled sometime.
Preparation
Loose leaf
Appearance? Dark, black/orange hints of green
Aroma when Dry: fruity, can smell the sticky tart tartness, with some subtle undertones
After water is first poured: non specific fruit notes
At end of steep:
Tea liquor:
first color: light dusty brown
At end of steep: bland fruity
Staple? No, but Possible seasonal treat.
Time of day preferred: unsure as of yet
Taste:
first notes: dry, bland
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? Not at first, added Raw Sugar at half a cup.
Lingers? Yes, with the sticky earthiness of the top notes in tamarind, light tart tang
As it cools? Dissipates into earthy dustiness. leaves mouth as dry as expected for tamarind.
At warm, not hot, with the addition of raw sugar, it is opening up a bit more, with the full layers of noted found in raw tamarind.
Reflecting:I will try again another day, thinking this might be better in summer.
Preparation
Bagged Tea.
Aroma when Dry: slightly sweet, bright, woodsy
After water is first poured: fresh, bright clean minty
At end of steep: woody, fresh, minty
Tea liquor:
first color: light woody green
At end of steep: same
Staple? Yes, looking into loose leaf options
Time of day preferred: Any
Taste: first notes: balanced, clean mint
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with the woody notes, and an after- bite of mint.
As it cools? Notes blend, tea gets crisper.
Also good chilled, holds flavour.
Preparation
Bagged Tea. (available loose as well)
Aroma when Dry: sour, bitter
After water is first poured: slight tart note, barely discernable
as brewing: same
Tea liquor: first color: earth pink
At end of steep: deepens in color, still pink
Staple? Probably, looking into loose leaf version next.(will use that form as staple if it works out)
Time of day preferred: Any, when needing a refreshing tea.
Taste: first notes: bright, bitter, tart, floral rosehips first, finishing with the hibiscus
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, with earthyness, tart/ mild simultaneously.
As it cools? Notes blend, minor peppery texture
Preparation
Bagged Tea.
Aroma when Dry: Bright, spicy, warm, fresh, uplifting.
After water is first poured: warm, smooth spice,
as brewing: mellow earthy spice
Tea liquor: first color: light earthy red
At end of steep even earthy red.
Staple? Yes, will look into loose leaf next
Time of day preferred: Morning, or if I need a pick me up.
Taste: first notes: cardamom, peppery bite. fresh, bodied.
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No.
Lingers? Yes, with almost a lemony, or Chamomile texture, but spicier. can feel it warming entire body.
As it cools? Still warm, spice fades a bit, mellows and then deepens to general earthy notes
